Posted!

Join the Conversation

Comments

Welcome to our new and improved comments, which are for subscribers only.
This is a test to see whether we can improve the experience for you.
You do not need a Facebook profile to participate.

You will need to register before adding a comment.
Typed comments will be lost if you are not logged in.

Please be polite.
It's OK to disagree with someone's ideas, but personal attacks, insults, threats, hate speech, advocating violence and other violations can result in a ban.
If you see comments in violation of our community guidelines, please report them.

Red Wings center Henrik Zetterberg (40) looks on during the third period of the Wings' 3-1 win over the Hurricanes on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018, at Little Caesars Arena.(Photo: Raj Mehta USA TODAY Sports)

“It’s a number that I’ve been looking at for a while,” Zetterberg said. “It’s special to have it with him – he’s been around here for the whole of my career and before that, too. He’s meant a lot for a lot of players – not just for this team but what he did with the Players Association. We wouldn’t be in this spot where we are now if it wasn’t for him.”

Lindsay, a four-time Stanley Cup winner who played for the Wings from 1944-57 and again in 1964-65, still mills about the Wings’ locker room from time to time even as he’s rounded into his 90s. Asked if he hopes to be so spry at 92, Zetterberg laughed.

"That probably will not happen, but you can always wish for that,” he said.

Trevor Daley called Zetterberg “a special person. He’s unbelievable as a person. To get to know him, to get to see how he carries himself every day, he’s a classy guy.”

Red Wings center Henrik Zetterberg (40) thanks the crowd after scoring a goal during the second period of the Wings' 3-1 win over the Hurricanes on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018, at Little Caesars Arena.(Photo: Raj Mehta USA TODAY Sports)

That Zetterberg, 37, is still such a factor – he’s the team’s second-leading scorer – is a tribute to his determination. He underwent back surgery four years ago, casting his future in doubt – but he’s on track to play all 82 games for the third straight season.

That he’s a special player has been clear to the Wings since his rookie season, in 2002-03. He helped them win a Stanley Cup in 2008, became captain in 2013, and has logged more than 1,000 games in a Wings uniform. His No. 40 is destined to hang in the rafters at Little Caesars Arena. All this from a guy drafted 210th overall in 1999.

“He’s going to go down as a great Red Wing for sure,” coach Jeff Blashill said. “His competitive fire is unreal. For the last month, he’s been our best player on a nightly basis. He’s just so hyper competitive that he just refuses to lose battles. Combine that with his hockey sense and his skill set and you get one of the great Red Wings.”

Zetterberg scored in the second period when he deflected Gustav Nyquist’s shot during a power play. Danny DeKeyser had the first goal and Daley the last as the Wings scored three goals at home for the first time since Jan. 5.

“We’ve had a tough stretch of games where our fate could have went the other way and it didn’t," Blashill said. "We need wins. We haven’t done a good enough job at home and so we needed to win this game for sure. To get rewarded is good.”

That it included an in-game celebration made for a memorable night.

“Top five in a storied franchise like ours, it’s special,” Dylan Larkin said. “He’s a great player. He’s the leader of our team, so it’s pretty cool to see how he’s going through it. It’s pretty special the way he carries himself.”

Red Wings center Henrik Zetterberg (40) thanks the crowd after scoring a goal during the second period of the Wings' 3-1 win over the Hurricanes on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018, at Little Caesars Arena. Raj Mehta USA TODAY Sports

Red Wings left wing Tomas Tatar (21) and Hurricanes right wing Justin Williams (14) fight for the puck during the third period of the Wings' 3-1 win over the Hurricanes on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018, at Little Caesars Arena. Raj Mehta USA TODAY Sports

Red Wings defenseman Xavier Ouellet (61) hits the puck around the boards during the first period of the Wings' 3-1 win over the Hurricanes on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018, at Little Caesars Arena. Raj Mehta USA TODAY Sports

Hurricanes right wing Lee Stempniak (21) tries to get control of the puck in front of Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard (35) during the first period on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018, at Little Caesars Arena. Duane Burleson, AP

Hurricanes right wing Sebastian Aho (20) tries to maintain control of the puck against Red Wings right wing Gustav Nyquist (14) during the first period on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018, at Little Caesars Arena. Duane Burleson, AP

Larkin, 21, recalled the first time he met Lindsay, 92, a couple years ago.

“It’s special that he still comes around,” Larkin said. “Once a month he comes in the locker room and walks around, wears a shirt and tie and shakes everyone’s hands and looks you right in the eye and asks you how your day is going. The first time I met him, I was pretty nervous. I think we were talking about the equipment when he was playing back in the day. We talked about Red Berenson as well.

“It’s special to have him around. I know he was at a game a couple nights ago and it’s awesome to have him there.”